Folding table and leg actuator



July 15, 1952 E. F. KNOWLES 2,603,544

FOLDING TABLE AND LEG ACTUATOR Filed July 26, 1949 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEE'I 1 /0 INVENTOR.

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July 15, 1952 E. F. KNOWLES FOLDING TABLE AND LEG ACTUATOR 2 SHEETSS HEE'I 2 Filed July 26, 1949 ,0 ydyni INVENTOR. fiMl/A/fKA/MLES II I 1 Patented July 15, 1 952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3' 1 2303544, I I I FOLDYIVNGTA'BLE AND LEGACTUATOR Edwin F.- Knowles, Miami, Ariz. Application July 26, 1949, Serial No. 106,882

This invention relates to a folding table, particularly of the card table type, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and efficient leg actuating means for facilitating the moving of the table supportinglegs in unison to an open or folded position. I

A further object of this invention is the pro duction of a simple and efficient means for attaching the legs to an actuating ring in a manner whereby the swinging of one leg of the table to and from a folded position will automatically move the other legs to similar positions.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a bottom planview of the table showing the legs thereof in an extended position; I Figure 2 is a fragmentary bottom planview of the table showing the legs in a folded position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the table showing one leg in a set-'upor vertical position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure .1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the ring guiding frames;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary inverted perspective view of one corner of the table showing one leg in an extended position, and illustrating a portion of the actuating ring, a portion of a ring guiding frame, and the leg braces;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 88 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a portion of the actuating ring showing one of the leg actuating link connections.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that In designates the table top or body having side rails II which depend from the side edges of the body H], as shown. A'leg I2 is hingedly secured at each corner of the body In upon a journal bar [3 which has one end thereof journaled in the box-like portion [4 carried at one end of one of the actuating ring guiding frames. Each journal bar I3 is provided with an angle brace 15 which is integral at its inner end with the bar 3 and is inclined toward the leg l2. The opposite end [6 is journaled to the leg 12 by means of a pin I! which also pivotally anchors the end ll! of the link rod [9 to the leg l2. The opposite end 20 of the link rod I3 is pivotally connected to an angularly extending terminal 2! of the rotatable connecting pin 22 which extends outwardly and radially of the actuating ring 23, shown in detail in Figure 9. The pin 22 is pref- 1 Claim. (01. 311-32) erably threaded transversely of the ring 23 so as to freely rotate as the actuating link [3 moves to different angular positions, which is causedbythe leg I2 moving to and from an openandfolded position. I T

As shown, a leg I2 is carried at ea'ch corner of the bodyv l0, and a'ring guiding frame 24 extends diagonally of each corner at an approximately 45 degree angle. The frames 24 arefixed to the under face of thebody Ill, as shown in Figure 1. Each frame 24 ispreferably formed from sheet metal and is'bent to provide the box-like journal l4 at one end which extends rearwardly of the frame 24 and is anchored toone side rail fl i, as shown. The frame 24 is provided withend anchoring flanges 25 and "2.6 which are vfixed to adjacent right-angularly extending side rails ll to hold the frame at an. approximate 45 degree angle. The outer face of each frame 24 is curved as at 21, to conform to the circular actuating ring 23. The frame 24 is of a channel type structure and carries a pair of spaced concave ring engaging rollers 28, one roller being carried near each end of each frame. There are four frames 24, one in each corner of the table, and two rollers for each frame which engage the ring 23 which is preferably tubular in cross-section, as shown. These rollers 28 will firmly hold the ring 23 against accidental or forced displacement and permit the ring to be easily shifted circumferentially as one leg I2 is swung, as shown in Figure 8. It should be noted that the manual operation of one leg will exert a pulling pressure on the link.- l9 and upon the 1311122 and this action in turn through the movement of the ring 23 creates a pushing pressure on the link [9 and upon the pin 22 and this action in turn through the movement of the ring 23 creates a pushing pressure on the pins 22 and links 19 of the other three legs due to the fact that the links H! are connected to the angularly extending terminals 2| of the pins 22, which pins 22 are rotatably connected to the ring 23 and extend radially and outwardly of the ring 23. This arrangement prevents binding of the parts during operation and causes the other legs to freely and simultaneously swing as one leg is manually swung by the operator.

It should be understood that the concave spaced rollers 28 of one frame 24 are located in diametrically opposed relation to the spaced rollers 28 of the diametrically opposed frame 24 so as to firmly hold the ring 23 in rotatable frictional contact with all of the rollers and against accidental displacement from the rollers. As is shown in Figure 3, the ring 23 is in a horizontal plane which is inset toward the table top I!) relative to the horizontal plane of the journal bar l3, and the outer end or crank end 2| of the radiating pin 22 extends inwardly toward the table top I0. Consequently, as the ring 23 is rotated by pulling one leg l2 outwardly the pins 22 will produce an outward thrusting action upon the links I9 and the links l9 will in turn have an outward thrusting action upon their companion legs to swing all of the legs in unison to an open position.

One of the frames 24 is provided with a pair of spaced locking pins 29 and 30 to be engaged by an apertured spring latching plate or latch 3| which is carried by the actuating ring 23. A

stop or abutment 32 is located near the locking A device of the class described comprising a table top having side rails depending from the side edges thereof, an actuating ring guiding frame extending diagonally across each corner of the table top and engaging the side rails adjacent the corners of the table top to brace said rails, a leg carried at each corner of said table top, a journal bar for hingedly connecting each a brace connected to each journal and also connected to the adjacent leg, an actuating link pivotally connected to each leg, a circular actuating ring mounted between said guiding frames and located in a horizontal plane inwardly towardthe tabletop relative to the journal bars has been released, theactuating ring 23 will be 7 rotated, thereby simultaneously moving the remaining legs to a like position. This operation is duetothefact thatthe link rods I 9 connect the legs. l2to the ring 23. Asimple and .eificient structurathereby is.- provided tov facilitate the swinging of the, legs. 12- to. and-from an extended position. and also for holding the. legs in such. positions until the latch 3! is. automatically released as a slightadditional pressure is applied to the leg l2, which is being swung by invention, so longas these changes fall within the. scope of the appended. claim.

Having. described the. invention, what is claimed asnelwis of 'said legs, means carried by said frames for retaining the ring between the frames, crank pins extending outwardly and radially of said rings, and. each crankpin having an inturned end. extending toward'th'e table top and'engaging the. adjacentactuating-link to produce. an out-,- ward thrust; upon the legs-andthe actuating links as thevringg rotates to thereby open the legs in unison as one leg is swung outwardly.

V EDWIN Ff KNOWLES.

R-EFERENCES- CITED; 7 The followingreferences are-of record in. the file of this. patent: J V V UNITED STATES PA'IIEIN'ISv Overby Nov. 24; 1942 

